Metal cutting torch



Jan. 24, 1967 D. A. MARRA, 5R` 3299,@39

METAL CUTTING TORCH Filed Oct. 21, 1965 52, T 2,7 55 A A 44 zb j@ f 45i: 6 47 48 45 INVENTOR. F gfl. nANxEl. AMARRA 5R.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,299,939 METAL CUTIE-TNG TORCH Daniel A. Marra,Sr., 641 E. Elm St., Palmyra, Pa. 17078 Filed Oct. 21, 1965. Ser. No.499,300 4 Claims. (Cl. 15S-427.4)

The present invention relates generally to metal cutting torches andmore specically to an improved form of torch which upon attachment tosuitable sources of oxygen and fuel gas automatically controls feed ofsuch oxygen and fuel gas upon actuation of a control handle throughignition, preheat and cutting operations of the torch.

Oxygen burning cutting torches are known in the art, these prior devicesrequired considerable skill in the manual control of the flow of oxygenand fuel gas to the torchftip and require frequent repairs andreplacements of such control valves.

My prior Patent No. 2,371,970 dated March 20, 1945,

discloses a cutting torch of the general type `herein de- `scribed andthe present invention comprises an improvement thereover providinggreater efficiency through the improved valve controls whereby the torchas shipped from the factory is ready for maximum efficient use withoutany required valve adjustments by the user.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form ofoxygen feed valve and an improved form of valve control and gas feedvalve body portion for accurately controlling feed of oxygen and fuelgas through a simple hand accuated control lever formed on the handleportion of the torch.

Other objects will be made apparent from the following description andthe drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation the torch of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows in plan view the valve chest of the torch body;

FIG. 3 shows in cross section one of the valves normally providingoxygen and fuel gas for ignition and preheating llames;

FIG. 4 shows in cross section the valve providing cutting oxygen; and

FIG. 5 shows control valve for admission of oxygen and fuel gas to thevalve chest.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the torch comprises a valvechest 1, a handle portion 2, pipes 3, 4 and 5, and head portion 6 forattachment of a suitable removable and replaceable tip 7. Pivotallymounted upon valve chest 1 and overlying handle 2 is a valve actuatinglever 8. Adjacent one end of valve chest 1 and at opposite sides thereofare screw valves 9 and 10 for admission of oxygen and fuel gasesrespectively, to the valve chest 1. Extending rearwardly of valve chest1 are suitable coupling members 11 and 12 respectively, for attachmentof suitable flexible hoses extending to suitableA tanks for pressurestorage of oxygen and a fuel gas, such as acetylene.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing showing an enlarged detail planview of the valve chest 1 and valve cavities and channel therein forconveying oxygen and 'fuel gas, at the extreme right hand end of thevalve chest are openings 13 and 14 for reception of the coupling members11 and 12 for admission of oxygen and fuel gases to the respectivevalves as hereinafter discussed.

Adjacent said openings 13 and 14, at the opposite sides of the valvechest 1, are the valve body openings 15 and 16 having at the outer facesthereof counter-bores 17,

and, terminating on the inner face thereof, inwardly extending bores`13for reception of valve bodies, controlice ling admission of oxygen andfuel gases to the valve chest. Extending in a direction longitudinallyof the valve chest and transversely of bores 18 are two channels 21 and22, channel 21 being of a suitable size to carry a suitable volume ofoxygen for the torch cutting operation and ,channel 22 being of asuitable size to carry a suitable volume of fuel gas for the torchpreheating operation. Channel 21 is connected by a suitable channel 23with opening 13 receiving the coupling member 11 connected with theoxygen storage tank and channel 22 is con nected by a suitable channel24 with opening 14 receiving the coupling member 12 connected with thefuel gas storage tank. Intermediate the ends of valve chest 1 aresuitable openings 25, 26 and 27 for reception of valves controlling theignition, preheating and cutting operations of the torch. Openings 25and 26 receive identical valves 28 as shown in FIG. 3 and opening 27receives a different form of valve 28a as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, valve chest opening 25has a top counter bore 29 and a bottom recessed opening 30, adjacent thebottom of which is the channel 31 opening thereinto for admission offuel gas or oxygen as shown in FIG. 3. Within the threaded 'bottomportion of opening 25 is a vvalve body portion 32 having a passageway 33therethrough. The bottom of passageway 33 is transversely enlarged toreceive O- `ring 34 against which seals a metal ball 35 normallyretained in place by compression spring 36. Extending vertically throughvalve body 32 and outwardly of said O-ring 34 is a passageway 37connecting openings 25 and 30. Mounted in the upper portion of opening25 and in spaced relation to valve body 32 is the valve head portion 38through which extends the valve stem 39. As shown in FIG. 3, stem 39, innormal position extends from ball 35 upwardly through valve head portion38. Mounted upon stern 39, in spaced relation to valve body 32, is asealing gasket 40. The diameter of gasket 40 is such that when stem 39is depressed to engage the gasket 40 with the top face `of valve body32, the gasket does not overlap the passageway 37. Below valve headportion 38 and opening into valve chest opening 25 is channel 41, 42providing Ifor flow of fuel gas to pipe 3 or oxygen to pipe 4,respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing illustrating the valve 28a forcontrol of admission of cutting oxygen to pipe 5 of the torch, thethreaded valve chest cavity 27 has a bottom recessed opening 43 adjacentthe bottom of which is the channel 21 opening thereinto for admission ofcutting oxygen. Within the threaded bottom portion of opening 27 is avalve body portion 44 lhaving a passageway 45 therethrough, the bottomof which at 46 is enlarged to receive O-ring 47. A metal ball 48 sealsagainst the O-ring and is normally held in sealing contact therewith bymeans of the compression spring 49. Mounted in the upper end of opening27 in spaced relation to body portion 44 is the valve head portion 50having an opening 51 therethrough. Disposed in openings 45 and 51 is thevalve stern 52 having one end 5211 in contact with ball 4S andtheopposite end 52a extending above member 50. At one side of opening 27 isthe outlet conduit 53 carrying oxygen to the pipe 5 of the torch.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawing illustrating the control valvesfor admitting oxygen and fuel gas to the valve chest 1, both valvesindicated generally on FIG. l as 9 and 10, are substantially identicalexcept as hereinafter set forth. Each valve chest openings 15 and 16have a bottom recessed portion 18 within which is seated the hollowvalve body .portion 54 having a wall 55 and an open bottom portionwithin which is received an insert 56 having a bearing upon the lowerwall of recess 18. Insert 56 has a recess 57 therein receiving acompression :maintain an ignition fiame. :actuation of Valves 28, theadvancing lever 8 abuts valve spring 58. The top wall 55 has an opening59 therethrough and an O-ring 60 underlying said opening. Seated uponthe compression spring 58 is a metal ball 61 which seals against theO-ring 60. The bottom wall 62 has an aperture 63 therein communicatingwith the valve chest `opening 64 in communication with channels 23 and24, respectively. The chest openings 15 and 16, adjacent the upper endthereof, are closed by valve head portions 66 which receive the screwthreaded valve stems 67 which terminate in head portions 67a. The valvestems are sealed by O-rings 68 and retaining washer 69.

The inserts 56 of valves 9 and 10 serve an important function in theoperation of the cutting torch. The insert 56 in the valve providingfuel gas to lthe torch has its aperture 63 therein of a size to admit amaximum volume, per unit of time, of the fuel gas to maintain anefficient and economical torch preheating flame when the valve 10 isopened by turning valve stem 67 to downwardly displace valve ball 61 outof sealing engagement with O- ring 60, which fuel gas fiows from thevalve opening through channel 31a of the valve chest. In such caseswhere valve 28, feeding fuel gas to torch pipe 3, is closed, as shown inFIG. 3 of the drawing, lthe fuel gas entering opening 31 of the valve 28is metered through aperture 37 of valve body 32 and through valve chestchannel 41 into pipe 3 in sufficient amounts to maintain an ignitionflame on the torch tip.

This construction and arrangement constitutes an improvement .over thecutting torch o-f my Patent 2,371,970 wherein the valve 30 (FIG. VII)must be constantly iadjusted to admit fuel gas in proper volumes land,due to wear from constant opening, closing and adjustment, re- -quiresconstant attention from the operator and a varying setting to maintainsufficient volume of gas for preheating purposes. Such adjustments arefurther complicated by the necessity for adjustment of stem 17 (FIG. Il)to maintain sufficient biasing pressure on handle 15 to initiallymaintain valve stem 20 (FIG. VI) sufficiently depressed to admit fuelgas to valve 12 to maintain a proper ignition flame, by means of gasflowing through valve 21 perforation 22 of the patent.

Referring now to valve 9 which admits oxygen to the valve chest 1,through aperture 63a (FIG. V) in insert 56, the size of aperture 63a ispredetermined in the factory to admit the maximum volume of oxygenthrough valve chest channel 21 to valve 29 during the cutting operation.At the same time valve chest channel 31 meters the required amount ofoxygen to valve 28 during t-he preheating operation.

Referring now to the operation of the torch of the pres ent invention,after the torch inlet openings 11 and 12 are connected by their hoses tothe oxygen and fuel gas storage tanks (not shown) the valves 9 and 1()are opened to admit the respective gases to the torch chest 1 throughwhich they flow to closed valves 28 and therefrom to the pipes 3 and 4and into the torch tip 7. The workman can then ignite the torch by anyusual or suitable means.

Thereafter the workman holding the torch handle in the palm of the hand,with the fingers overlapping the lever 8, may advance the latter towardsthe handle to initially actuate valves 28 by depressing stems 39 thereofto depress the balls out of engagement with O-rings 34 admitting oxygenand fuel gas from valve chest channels .31, 31a into valve openings 25and therefrom through valve chest channels 41, 42 to pipes 3 and 4 andtorch tip 7 to effect a preheating iiame. After the metal is suitablypreheated by said flame, the workman again advances the lever 8 towardshandle 2 until the gaskets 4t) on valve :stems 39 of valves 28 abut thevalve body portions 32 cutting off iiow of oxygen and fuel gastherethrough in .amounts to maintain the preheating flame, Vyetsupplying Ioxygen and fuel gas through apertures 37 of valves 28 toConcurrent with this latter stem 52 moving same to depress ball 48sufficiently to admit a cutting volume of oxygen from valve chestchannel 21 through valve 29 and valve chest channel 53 to pipe 5 andinto tip 7 to provide a suitable cutting flame. After the cuttingoperation is complete, the operator releases the lever 8 and thecompression springs 36 and 49 in closing valves 28 `and 29 will returnthe handle to initial position. Since the ignition flame is maintainedwithout actuation of the handle, the operator can then repeat the cycleof preheat and cutting flames to effect another cutting or, as sometimesreferred to, scarfing operation. When the torch is not in use, theoperator by closing valves 9 and 10 can extinguish the ignition flame bycutting off all supply of oxygen or fuel gas to the torch.

I claim:

1. In a cutting torch'of the -character described including a valvechest, a body portion attached to said chest, fuel and oxygen tubesconnecting said chest ywith a torch head and a replaceable torch tipreceived in said torch head, the combination of (l) a plurality ofrecessed openings in a longitudinal face of said valve chest forreception of valves for transmission of oxygen in preheating and cuttingvolumes and fuel gas in torch ignition volumes, respectively, inletopenings in lan end wall of said valve chest for admission of oxygen andfuel gases,

(2) a recessed openin-g in each chest side Wall adjacent said end wallinlet openings,

(3) a control valve received in each said chest side wall openings andeach provided with an inlet opening sized to admit to the valve apre-selected constant volume of fuel or oxygen gas under all degrees ofopening movements of the valve,

(4) a first channel extending longitudinally within the valve chest andopening into the said recessed opening receiving the valve for passageof oxygen in metal cuting volumes,

(5) a second channel extending longitudinally within thevalve chest andopening at onecnd into the recessed opening receiving the valve forpassage of fuel gas for ignition of the torch,

(6) a channel within the valve chest connecting the valve chest end wallopening lfor admitting oxygen to with said chest first channel opening,

(7) a channel in the valve chest connecting the valve chest endwallopening for admitting fuel gas to said body with said chest secondchannel,

(8) valve means in each of said valve chest side wall openings includinga moveable valve stem and Ia spring Iloaded steel 'ball controllingpassage of the respective gases through said valve means, l

(9) channels in said valve chest connectingy said chest side wall valvemeans with the adjacent recessed openings in the valve chest end wall,

( 10) channels in said valve chest connecting said chest side wallopenings with two of the adjacent said recessed openings in thelongitudinal face of said chest,

(l1) a connection between the third of said recessed openings in thelongitudinal face of the chest and the said first channel extendinglongitudinally of the chest,

(l2) valve means in each said recessed openings in the longitudinal faceof said chest for respectively con` tinuously supplying f-uel gas andoxygen from said chest side wall valves to said torch tip for ignitionpurposes and intermittently supplying oxygen to said torch tip 'formetal preheating and cutting purposes, and

(13) moveable valve actuating means on said torch overlying said lattervalve means for selectively actuating the valve means from normallyclosed to open position for performance of their functions.

2. The torch as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve means supplyingpreheating fuel and oxygen gases to the torch tip have valve bodyportions provided with anaper- D ture therethrough which continuouslysupply suitable volumes of fuel and oxygen gases to the torch tip tomaintain an ignition flame when the control valves admitting such gas-esto the valve chest are in opened position and independently of the openor clos-ed position of the said valve means.

3. The torch as `defined `in claim 1, wherein the Valve means supplyingoxygen in suitable volumes to maintain the cutting ame of the torch isnormally close-d and is moveable to open position only after the valvemeans pro viding a preheating arne for this torch have been sequentiallyopened and advanced to cut off supply of oxygen to the torch tip.

6 4. The torch as defined in claim 3, wherein the valve means supplyingoxygen in suitable volumes to maintain the cutting flame, receives its1oxygen through the irst said chest channel and independently of thefirst said valve means providing the preheating flame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3/1945 Walkerl58-27.4 6/1966 Hach et al. 15S-27.4

1. IN A CUTTING TORCH OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED INCLUDING A VALVECHEST, A BODY PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID CHEST, FUEL AND OXYGEN TUBESCONNECTING SAID CHEST WITH A TORCH HEAD AND REPLACEABLE TORCH TIPRECEIVED IN SAID TORCH HEAD, THE COMBINATION OF (1) A PLURALITY OFRECESSED OPENINGS IN A LONGITUDINAL FACE OF SAID VALVE CHEST FORRECEPTION OF VALVES FOR TRANSMISSION OF OXYGEN IN PREHEATING AND CUTTINGVOLUMES AND FUEL GAS IN TORCH IGNITION VOLUMES, RESPECTIVELY, INLETOPENINGS IN AN END WALL OF SAID VALVE CHEST FOR ADMISSION OF OXYGEN ANDFUEL GASES, (2) A RECESSED OPENING IN EACH CHEST SIDE WALL ADJACENT SAIDEND WALL INLET OPENINGS, (3) A CONTROL VALVE RECEIVED IN EACH SAID CHESTSIDE WALL OPENINGS AND EACH PROVIDED WITH AN INLET OPENING SIZED TOADMIT TO THE VALVE A PRE-SELECTED CONSTANT VOLUME OF FUEL OR OXYGEN GASUNDER ALL DEGREES OF OPENING MOVEMENTS OF THE VALVE, (4) A FIRST CHANNELEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN THE VALVE CHEST AND OPENING INTO THESAID RECESSED OPENING RECEIVING THE VALVE FOR PASSAGE OF OXYGEN IN METALCUTTING VOLUMES, (5) A SECOND CHANNEL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHINTHE VALVE CHEST AND OPENING AT ONE END INTO THE RECESSED OPENINGRECEIVING THE VALVE FOR PASSAGE OF FUEL GAS FOR IGNITION OF THE TORCH,(6) A CHANNEL WITHIN THE VALVE CHEST CONNECTING THE VALVE CHEST END WALLOPENING FOR ADMITTING OXYGEN TO WITH SAID CHEST FIRST CHANNEL OPENING,(7) A CHANNEL IN THE VALVE CHEST CONNECTING THE VALVE CHEST END WALLOPENING FOR ADMITTING FUEL GAS TO SAID BODY WITH SAID CHEST SECONDCHANNEL, (8) VALVE MEANS IN EACH OF SAID VALVE CHEST SIDE WALL OPENINGSINCLUDING A MOVEABLE VALVE STEM AND A SPRING LOADED STEEL BALLCONTROLLING PASSAGE OF THE RESPECTIVE GASES THROUGH SAID VALVE MEANS,(9) CHANNELS IN SAID VALVE CHEST CONNECTING SAID CHEST SIDE WALL VALVEMEANS WITH THE ADJACENT RECESSED OPENINGS IN THE VALVE CHEST END WALL,(10) CHANNELS IN SAID VALVE CHEST CONNECTING SAID CHEST SIDE WALLOPENINGS WITH TWO OF THE ADJACENT SAID RECESSED OPENINGS IN THELONGITUDINAL FACE OF SAID CHEST, (11) A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THIRD OFSAID RECESSED OPENINGS IN THE LONGITUDINAL FACE OF THE CHEST AND THESAID FIRST CHANNEL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CHEST, (12) VALVEMEANS IN EACH SAID RECESSED OPENINGS IN THE LONGITUDINAL FACE OF SAIDCHEST FOR RESPECTIVELY CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING FUEL GAS AND OXYGEN FROMSAID CHEST SIDE WALL VALVES TO SAID TORCH TIP FOR IGNITION PURPOSES ANDINTERMITTENTLY SUPPLYING OXYGEN TO SAID TORCH TIP FOR METAL PREHEATINGAND CUTTING PURPOSES, AND (13) MOVEABLE VALVE ACTUATING MEANS ON SAIDTORCH OVERLYING SAID LATTER VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING THEVALVE MEANS FROM NORMALLY CLOSED TO OPEN POSITION FOR PERFORMANCE OFTHEIR FUNCTIONS.